politesse

See also: Politesse

Contents

EnglishEdit

EtymologyEdit

From the French politesse, from the Italian politezza, from polito, past participle of pulire ‎(“to polish”, “to clean”), from the Latin polire, present active infinite form of poliō ‎(“I polish”, “I smooth”).

PronunciationEdit

• (UK) IPA^(key): /pɒlɪˈtɛs/
• (US) IPA^(key): /pɑləˈtɛs/

NounEdit

politesse ‎(plural politesses)

1. Civility, politeness, courtesy or gallantry; or an instance of this.
   • 1978, Iris Murdoch, The Sea, The Sea, Vintage 1999, pp. 56-7:

     The reference in his letter to ‘having a drink’ is of course just an empty politesse.

   • 2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin 2012, p. 7:

     The soft politesse concealed a sharp observer, a gleaner of information, cool under pressure and used to having to think several steps ahead […].

TranslationsEdit

civility, courtesy

• French: savoir-vivre (fr) m

• Swedish: artighet (sv) c

---

FrenchEdit

EtymologyEdit

From Italian politezza.

PronunciationEdit

• IPA^(key): /pɔlitɛs/

• Audio

  (file)

NounEdit

politesse f ‎(plural politesses)

1. politeness, courtesy
2. polite remark/action

External linksEdit

• “politesse” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).